Man Who Shot At Teens Plea Bargains In Montco

April 29, 1986|The Morning Call

A Red Hill man who said he was "sick and tired of being harassed" by neighborhood teen-agers was placed on probation for four years yesterday after pleading guilty in Montgomery court to firing a shotgun at three youths.

Bernard B. Beard of Main St. was charged with recklessly endangering another person and simple assault. Under terms of a plea agreement, the district attorney's office dropped a charge of attempted murder.

Beard testified the shooting took place last December after a series of incidents including one in which a group of youths ran across his freshly paved driveway.

He said he fired one shotgun round, intending to scare them. He told police at the time that he didn't think he hurt anyone because they kept running.

Beard, who said he was a former newspaper man, testified he has a heart disability. The judge directed him not to keep any guns in his possession during the probationary years. He said he had disposed of his gun collection by giving it to a son.

A police report dated Nov. 28, 1985, indicated police called to Beard's home were told he'd had an upsetting episode. Police said he threatened to shoot should it ever occur again. Officers advised him that was not proper action to take and he should call police to handle the situation.